The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

bitelifestyle staircase welcomes you to the main floor, where the frescoed hall follows the other in a series of sumptuous lounges with city views. Studio Dini Cataldi used mirror-polished copper, handwo- ven raffia and black waxed iron, which encompasses every room on this floor and pays homage to Apulian tradition and culture. A lush collection of exclusive vintage and con- temporary furniture worldwide was meticulously selected to enhance and highlight the store’s eclecticism. At Palaz- zo Pugliese, classic Italian design pieces created by Borsani, Frattini, Pamio, Toso and Massari meet international, one- of-a-kind design pieces. “Architecture, like fashion, is a physical manifestation of the culture of the time; both elaborate a vision into a tangible form and then share that vision with people, to dress up or live in as a reflection of their identity.” The space conceived and created for Nugnes Man 1920 was inspired by the classic tailoring of the ideal ‘Nugnes man’ refined and elegant, yet simple. It evokes modernity with traditional imprinting, be- ginning with precious wood essences, polished surfaces and sparkling glass. Brilliant and opaque gold and brass metals were combined to give the store its signature style. The link with tradition is further conveyed by the sunny hospitality typical of the Puglia region. This space transcends the idea of a store, becoming the ‘Nugnes home’ inside the warm and sensual sunlight filtered by the shutters that close over the showcase windows and line the street, lending a pleasant sense of fa- miliarity. The choice of grey stone flooring installed in large rectangu- lar slabs with precise geometric design is a decorative trim in rough brass outlining the passage from one area to another. The furniture expresses a balanced blend of modern, early 20th-century taste and a decidedly more linear and mini- malist design visible in the custom pieces created by locat- ed craftsmen. The same concept was applied in the lighting system design created using varying dimensions of channel steel painted white. The neutral elements’ subtlety highlights the layout of the decor. The predominant colour is white, used for the vaulted surfaces of the old building. At the same time, all the walls and pillars were completely covered in fine wood panel- ling elegantly interspersed with glass and brass elements. ‘Nugnes 1920 uomo’ is where traditional and contemporary styles are perfectly balanced, and where the concept of lux- ury is not the shopping itself, but rather a sense of being im- mersed in harmony that today we can define as “the melting pot taste of the contemporary man”. In keeping with the guidelines established for Nugnes 1920 Uomo, a redesigning of the women’s Nugnes 1920 Donna, open since 1997, is being planned. It is located on the corner opposite Nugnes Uomo 1920 in a prestigious historic build- ing called Palazzo Pugliese, featuring showcase windows that line three main roads. The entire surface area covers about 200 square metres and is open and accessible. Every roomwith its vaulted ceiling is connected to the others using a long central corridor that keeps clients on track, inviting them to choose freely between the two entrances at opposite ends. This corridor also helps organise the space for product displays, from the garment to unique accessories, thanks to the use of structures that change continually according to current needs and guarantee easy visibility throughout. The central concept behind the image of the new ‘Nugnes woman’ and her space will be expressed thanks to the use of new materials guaranteed to generate an exciting mix of so- phistication and elegance, uniqueness and contemporaneity. The product will be presented in a welcoming innovative, and functional space where shopping and entertainment are combined in a continually evolving setting. "Making a shop is like making clothes; you need to excite and energise peo- ple: there has to be the same shock and sense of surprise”. Prix Versailles is an invaluable recognition of Nugnes' com- mitment and endeavours in creating its new flagship store. Thanks to its fruitful collaboration with architects Filippo Dini and Gianluca Cataldi at Studio Dini Cataldi, Giuseppe has succeeded in his aim to give back to the city of Trani, which excludes 'Apulianity' in all its vibrancy and eclecti- cism. He participates in the local community's inclusive, creative and sophisticated atmosphere. https://uk.nugnes1920.com Images courtesy of Paola Pansini via Nugnes